White House: GOP memo 'raises serious concerns' for DOJ and FBI

by Sinclair Broadcast Group

FILE- President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, in Washington. Trump is traveling to speak at the House and Senate Republicans' annual legislative planning conference at the luxury Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - The White House has released a statement on the House Intelligence Committee memo, accusing the Department of Justice and the FBI of abusing surveillance powers to look into President Donald Trump's campaign.

The White House said the memo calls into question the integrity of decisions made at the highest levels of the Department of Justice. Here is the full statement:

"Earlier today, President Donald J. Trump declassified a memorandum from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The memorandum raises serious concerns about the integrity of decisions made at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and the FBI to use the Government’s most intrusive surveillance tools against American citizens," the document states.

This decision was made with input from the President’s national security team—including law enforcement officials and members of the intelligence community, for whom the President has great respect. He is especially grateful to the hardworking rank-and-file public servants who work every day to keep America safe and uphold our laws while protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans.

Minority members of the Committee have reportedly drafted a separate memorandum. The Administration stands ready to work with Congress to accommodate oversight requests consistent with applicable standards, including the need to protect intelligence sources and methods."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he'll examine Congress' concerns about the FBI investigation into possible cooperation between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Sessions issued a statement Friday after Republican lawmakers released a memo they wrote alleging surveillance abuses at the FBI. President Donald Trump declassified the memo earlier Friday.

Sessions says he will "forward to appropriate DOJ components all information I receive from Congress regarding this." Sessions did not elaborate, but the Justice Department's inspector general is tasked with investigating employee misconduct.

Sessions says he has faith in department employees but that "no department is perfect." He says he'is "determined that we will fully and fairly ascertain the truth."

Sessions has recused himself from the Russia probe, citing his own ties to Trump's campaign.